PAPAR: Prior to thinking about collaborating with other parties for the next state election (PRN), Sabah UMNO must focus on fortifying the party at all levels.
In making the call, the party’s chief, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, urged the party’s machinery and members to put more effort into planning and fortifying the party than into considering forming alliances with other parties.
“There is no point in thinking about cooperation with other parties if our party machinery is weak and disorganised.
“What is important at this time is to focus on the preparation of the party machinery; if we are strong, others will respect us and even want to cooperate with UMNO,” he said.
Bung said this while presiding over the conclusion of the retreat program for the UMNO Papar Division here on Sunday.
According to Bung, who is also the Chairman of Sabah Barisan Nasional, the party machinery at all levels needs to be strong and strive to overcome and rectify all existing weaknesses.
“If we fail to overcome or rectify all the existing weaknesses and shortcomings, it will lead to defeat,” he said.
In the meantime, Bung said that Sabah UMNO welcomes the cooperation with other coalition parties based on the principle of respecting each other’s agreements, which not only benefits the party but also the people of Sabah as a whole.
“We have learnt a lot from the previous merger process, so this matter has also matured Sabah UMNO. The important thing is that UMNO Sabah needs to be strengthened first,” he added.
